Gardaí have arrested two people following the attempted robbery of a shop in Ranelagh in Dublin overnight.

Two men with their faces covered entered the shop on Lower Mount Pleasant Avenue at 6.45pm yesterday, armed with what appeared to be a firearm.

An off-duty garda followed the men into the shop and confronted them. As the garda struggled with one of the men, he was attacked by the second. The garda later received medical attention at St James' Hospital for a hand injury.

The men ran from the shop in the direction of Mount Pleasant Square, pursued by the garda.

As the men ran, they threw the firearm into bushes at Mount Pleasant Square. It has been removed for technical examination.

One man was arrested following a struggle and the second escaped. The man in his 20s is detained under Section 30 of the Offencs Against the State Act 1939 at Rathmines garda station.

Gardaí arrested a second person at 11.30pm in a follow-up operation. A juvenile is being detained at Terenure under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act ,1939.

Anyone who was in the area of Mount Pleasant Avenue or Mount Pleasant Square yesterday evening between 6pm and 7pm is asked to contact Rathmines garda station on 01 666 66700.